Cornell University Library seeks a South Asia Studies Librarian to develop, make accessible, and promote holdings of the South Asia Collection with the Cornell’s Kroch Asia Collections.

Reporting to the Acting Director of the Asia Collections, the South Asia Studies Librarian will provide subject expertise and leadership to curate collections focusing on South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan). They will collaborate with fellow Cornell librarians and faculty members to publicize the collection and expand access to its unique resources through digital initiatives, teaching, and exhibitions to scholarly and global audiences. They will create course-integrated instruction, public programming, and educational resources to support use of the collection. The Librarian will deliver reference support for the collection and serve as a liaison to the Department of Asian Studies and the South Asia Program to support the educational mission of the University. Working closely with the Assistant Director, Metadata Production, the Librarian will bring focus and care to the creation and editing of bibliographic and authority data for materials in South Asian languages. They will perform both original and copy cataloging of materials in a wide variety of formats, assign subject headings and call numbers to bibliographic records, and support the maintenance of accurate catalog records.

As a Research, Teaching, and Extension (RTE) faculty member, the South Asia Studies Librarian will engage in service, scholarship, and ongoing professional development to meet the requirements of promotion and reappointment at Cornell University Library.

Candidate Profile

• An advanced degree in Asian Studies or a related discipline with a focus on South Asia, or a deep knowledge of the region.
• Working knowledge of one or more languages of South Asia. This may include the ability to speak, read, or write in the language.
• Knowledge of and enthusiasm for the responsibilities of librarianship. This could include a Master’s degree in library and/or information science from an ALA-accredited institution, an advanced degree in a related discipline, up to three years of experience in an academic or research library, or a strong desire to learn on the job.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships and collaborative partnerships with diverse groups, including faculty, staff, students, and administrators.
• Ability to work well under pressure, handle simultaneous demands, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, collaboration, organizational, and presentation skills.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically and to communicate that vision.

This position is located in Ithaca, New York. The selected candidate will typically work on the Ithaca campus 5 days per week, with potential for entering into a flexible work arrangement to allow remote work 1 day per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.

The New York Convenience of employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholdings for this position. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working temporarily outside New York State.

We expect to fill this position at the academic rank of Assistant Librarian. The anticipated salary range is $66,000-$72,000 and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes 22 vacation days, 13 paid holidays, health insurance, life insurance, university retirement contributions, childcare and adoption assistance, and child tuition reimbursement. Funding is available to support professional development and research. More information regarding Cornell’s generous endowed employee benefits can be found here.

Relocation assistance may be provided.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

How to Apply: All candidates must apply online via the Cornell Careers site. See job requisition ID WDR-00049569. For full consideration, please include the following with your application:

1. A cover letter that addresses your interest and why you are a good candidate for this position.
2. A Curriculum Vitae.
3. A statement supporting diverse communities. To continue to meet our educational, research and service goals and to meet our commitment to our founding principle, we hire and invest in faculty members who share our historical commitment to pursuing knowledge for …any person…in any study. We ask applicants for all faculty positions to share their experiences and/or approaches (past, current or future). Applicants can submit a stand-alone statement or embed the information in other parts of their application materials. Guidelines for candidates are here.

We will review applications on a rolling basis and we strongly encourage early submission. Although we prefer to receive your application as one, multi-page pdf document, we will accept multiple documents in other formats.

Our Vision: Empowering Cornell’s research and learning community with deep expertise, innovative services, and outstanding collections strengthened by strategic partnerships.

Our Mission: Cornell University Library promotes a culture of broad inquiry and supports the University’s mission to discover, preserve, and disseminate knowledge and creative expression. It engages with the ongoing transformations of society to deliver world-class physical and digital content and services critical to research, education, and outreach, now and in the future. The Library acts globally, supporting Cornell’s land grant mission in New York State and beyond, and builds partnerships within and outside the university. It invests in its staff, collections, and physical and virtual libraries. And, it serves as a neutral and trusted party supporting information access and scholarly communication.

Diversity and Inclusion: As a university founded to be a place where “…any person can find instruction in any study,” diversity and inclusion are at the core of our values and mission. We strive to be a welcoming, caring, healthy, and equitable community where students, faculty, and staff with different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn, innovate, and work in an environment of respect, and feel empowered to engage in any community conversation. As a member of the Cornell University community, it is important to recognize our shared responsibility to each other to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all. Cornell Core values

Environment: The Ithaca campus sits on 2,300 acres in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. Ithaca, located roughly halfway between Manhattan and Toronto, offers a wealth of cultural activities while maintaining an eclectic college-town feel. Outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of rolling hills, breathtaking gorges, hiking trails, and lakes offering countless outdoor activities. The city has been named one of the top 100 places to live, a top 10 recreation city, a best green place to live, and one of the “foodiest” towns in America.